TALI FEINBERG
Michalakis was part of the Democratic Alliance caucus’ visit to the South African Jewish Museum in Cape Town recently. It was the first of many visits planned for politicians from across the spectrum.
The DA parliamentarians were hosted by the museum and the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
“It is absolutely vital that we ask all our members of parliament to visit the Jewish Museum to fully understand the background of the South African Jewish community. This gives the MPs excellent insight into what a minority community has done and will continue to do for the building of the future of this country,” said MP Michael Bagraim (shadow deputy minister of labour), who conceptualised the visit.
“It was fantastic that we had 41 MPs altogether at the Jewish Museum who absolutely cherished the visit. The majority of them said that they want to come back and it was interesting to hear how many false perceptions have been created about the Jewish community and its history.
“The members of parliament are the country’s most senior representatives and it is particularly within the mandate of the Board of Deputies to engage with all echelons of society,” said Bagraim.
“The Jewish community is immersed in values of social justice and mutual support,” Joshua Hovsha (executive director of the Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies) said.
Juanita Terblanche (shadow deputy minister of science and technology) said: “Visiting this museum is essential for every South African. In this tumultuous time we need to learn about other minority groups.”
She also expressed her admiration for the Jewish community in general, particularly the way it cares for those with both mental and physical disabilities.
Ross Purdon (deputy shadow minister of water and environmental affairs) commented that the visit was “a great opportunity to honour the Jewish community and its contribution to South Africa”.
He commended the school visits that are part of the museum’s educational work and said that such visits should be a model that is replicated in other museums, both for learners and adult groups.
“Visits like this one are our main focus,” said SAJM Director Gavin Morris. “We aim to demystify our community, share our story and build an understanding of Jewish life and culture in South Africa. We are a community among communities.”
Guests were impressed with the museum’s current exhibition The Goldene Medina: Celebrating 175 Years of Jewish Life in South Africa. Tarnia Baker (shadow deputy minister of human settlements) was thrilled to see a photograph from Muizenberg, sharing that she had a photograph of her father as a child in the same spot.
“It’s so important to preserve local history – we are not doing enough,” she said. “We just passed the anniversary of the District Six forced removals, and we need to be commemorating such events. As it is quoted at the beginning of the exhibition: “We become the stories we tell.”
